DGA Statement on Jim Renacci Challenging Gov. Mike DeWine in OH GOP Primary

WVXU in Cincinnati: “Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.”

In the ongoing GOP civil war, former Rep. Jim Renacci launched an aggressive gubernatorial primary challenge against Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who was already vulnerable due to Ohio’s position as the “#1 state when it comes to public corruption” on his watch. 

Like other GOP races across the country, the OH GOP gubernatorial primary is a direct failure of the RGA and RGA Chair Doug Ducey to protect incumbents — and it will be defined by extreme and unpopular litmus tests. 

In fact, former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale has been working with Renacci and recently shared a poll showing DeWine in deep trouble with Republican voters, with 54% disapproving of his job performance.  David Niven, professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, described DeWine to WVXU in a report about how he’s “between a rock and a hard place,” saying, “I do think he’s in trouble.”

DGA Executive Director Noam Lee released the following statement on Renacci’s campaign announcement:

“Gov. DeWine was already vulnerable due to widespread corruption within his own party that he let get worse on his watch, but Renacci’s entrance into the race also confirms DeWine’s in for a bruising and divisive primary dominated by extreme and unpopular positions. Jim Renacci is right about one thing — Gov. Mike DeWine is failing and voters are ready for a new governor. We are ready to work with Ohioans to make it happen and elect a Democratic governor in 2022.”

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